: spare them from hence, I leaue you to iudge, hauing but 36 left but what I can get from Bristoll (of wch there is not much certainty, it being threatned to be besieged) you shall haue. But now I must giue you the trew state of my affaires, wch if their condic'on be such as enforces me to giue you more peremptory com'ands then I would willingly doe, you must not take it ill. If York be lost, I shall esteeme my Crowne little lesse, vnless supported by yo' suddain march to mee, & a miraculous conquest in the south, before the effects of the northern power can be found here: but if York be relieved, and you beat the Rebels armies of both kingdomes wch are before it; then, but otherwise not, I may possibly make a shift (vpon the defensive) to spin out time, vntill you come to assist me: Wherefore I command and coniure you by the duety & affecc'on weh I know you beare me, that (all new enterprises layd aside) you immediatly march (according to yo' first intention) with all yo' force to the reliefe of York: but if that be either lost, or haue freed themselves from the besiegers, or that for want of powder you cannot vndertake that work: that you immediately march with your whole strength to Worster, to assist me and my army, without weh, or yo' having releived York by beating the Scots, all the successes you can afterwards haue, most infallibly wilbe vselesse vnto me. You may beleive that nothing but an extreme necessity could make me write thus vnto you, wherefore, in this case, I can no wayes doubt of your punctuall compliance with Yo' loving Oncle & most faithfull friend, CHARLES R. I commanded this bearer to speake to you concerning Vauasor. (Copy) important fact in the history of the Civil Wars; for the Marquis of Newcastle, and other general officers, were so disgusted with the Prince for fighting against or without orders, as they supposed, that they left England immediately, going to Hamburgh, and thereby the whole of the north was lost to the King's cause. The letter in the text is a copy, but it At a Councell at Oxford, 5° December 1644. Present The Kings most excellent Matie, Prince Rupert Prince Maurice Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lo: Chamberlaine Ea: of Berks Ea: of Sussex Ea: of Chichester Lo: Duke of Richmond Lo: Digby Mr. Secretary Nicholas. A Letter being then read written by ye Earle of Essex to his Highness Prince Rupert Generall of his Ma" Armyes in these words, "S, There being a message sent from his Matie by ye Committess of both kingdomes that were lately at Oxon concerning a safe-conduct for ye Duke of Richmond & E. of South'ton without any direc'con: I am commanded by both Houses of Parliament to give yo Highnesse notice, That if ye King bee pleased to desire a safe conduct for ye Duke of Richmond & ye Ea: of South'ton wth their attendants from ye Lords and Commons assembled in ye Parliam' of England at Westminster, to bring to ye Lords and Commons assembled in ye Parliament of England, and ye Commissions of ye kingdome of Scotland now at London, an answere to the Propositions presented to his Matie for a safe and well grounded peace, it shalbee graunted. This is all I haue at present to trouble youre Highnesse, being 3° Decemb. 1644. Yo' Highness humble Servant, Which Letter and ye expressions therem being fully considered & debated, it was by the whole Councell vnanimously resolved, That his Maties desire presents no material discrepancy from the original, which has since been printed in Mr. Foster's Statesmen of the Commonwealth, vol. iv. pp. 129, 130. of a safe-conduct in ye termes expressed in that Letter, would not bee any acknowledgment or concession of ye members of ye two Houses sitting at Westminster to bee a Parliament, nor any wayes prejudice his Majesties cause, Whereupon his Matie declaring openly at ye Board, that since such was their Los opinion, that hee did therefore and (eo animo) consent thereunto. And accordingly his Matie desired his Highnesse Prince Rupert, as his Maties Generall, to retorne this answere: "My Lord, I am commanded by his Mate to desire of yo' LoP a safe-conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Ea: of South'ton wth their attendants, coaches and horses, and other accomodac❜ons for their journey in their coming to London, during their stay, and in their returne when they shall thinke fit from ye Lords and Com'ons assembled in ye Parliament of England at Westminster, to bring to ye Lords and Commons assembled in y Parliament of England and y Commission" of ye Parliament of Scotland now at London an answere to ye propositions presented to his Matie for a safe and well-grounded peace. Resting OXON. 5th Decemb", 1644. Yo' Lops Servant, RUPERT." Which said answer was accordingly sent to London by a Trumpeter. EDW. NICHOLAS. The following is in the hand of Sir E. N. Memorandum: that the King and myself of all the Councell Boorde were the only persons that concurred not in opinion; that it was fitt to call those sitting at Westm'a Parliam'. P.Rupert thoughe he were pesent did not vote, because he was to execute what should be resolved on by this Councell; but by the orderr & practice of the Councell Boorde, if the maior part agree to any act or order, all the Councellors that were pesent att the debate, albeit they dissented are involved, and are to be named as if they consented.-E. N. The King to Sir Edward Nicholas. HEMLY HALL,' 16 May, 1645. Nicholas, I haue receaued, & thanke you for your seuerall dispatches, but haue no newes to send you in recompence to yours, nor expect to sende you any sum'on Chester untill we shall come to 488: 338: wch is our first designe 361 being not yet resolued whether to goe afterward: I am glad you goe so well on wth your provisions : : 448 54 74 & hope you will take as great care that you be not disturbed by mutinous people: this is all at this tyme from Your most asseured frend, Let hencefoorthe 337. signefy 1 : 40: 30: 70: 33: 23: 50: 71: 24: 40: 31: 73 & 447: 74: Being newly come hither to Bisberry, I haue certaine intelligence that St John Pryce, being Gouernor & in Mungomery Castel, is declared, & houlds it for me. 16° Maij 1645. R: 21°. The King to me. 1 In Staffordshire, the seat of Lord Dudley, 2 On the day following the date of this Letter measures were taken by the Parliament for the siege of Oxford; the Commons, on the 17th of May, sending a message to the Upper House, to let their Lordships know "that the House of Commons, out of a desire to put an end to this miserable war, do think it fit that siege be laid to the City of Oxford, for the taking it, it being the centre of our troubles." 3 Bibury in Oxfordshire. The King to Sir Edward Nicholas. Nicholas CHETWIN, 18 May 1645. I receaued yours of the 16. this morning, to wch I haue litle to answer but to thanke you for your often aduerticements,' & to tell the Marquis Winchester that he recompence his woode losse out of Wallops:2 for newes Irefer you to your fellow Secretair & frend, the generall being,that we are (God be thanked) all well & in hart, the Rebelles hauing twyce offered to beate up some of our quarters, but wth losse to themselues: I desyre to know how you goe on in your recuting [recruiting] & fortifications, as well as you haue satisfied me concerning your prouisions: So desyring you to send thease inclosed to 454: I rest Your most asseured frend, (Address) "for your selfe." Indorsed; 18° Maij. 1645. R. 21°. The King to me. The King to Sir Edward Nicholas. WISTON,3 4 June 1645. Nicholas, I haue receaued yours, of the 30: May, this morning, none of yours hauing yet miscarried untill : but I would not answer any of them myselfe 292 : 1 It would seem to have been also the King's intention about this time to have done more for his secretary than mere thanks; for in a letter to the Queen, dated on the 27th of March, intercepted and published by the Parliament, he says, "As for Jack Barclay, I do not remember that I gave thee any hope of making him Master of the Wards; for Cottington had it long before thou went hence, and I intended it to Secr. Nich. if he then would have received it; and I am deceived if I did not tell thee of it." 2 Evidently in reference to the sequestrations inflicted upon that nobleman. 3 There are several places of this name; but it seems probable that the Wiston here meant is in Nottinghamshire. |